Simply put, conscious travel is connecting with others in a particular place in way that respects locals and visitors.

Conscious travel posits that how we nurture stories from within is as important as the stories others tell about us. Visitors who seek empathetic experiences need to know how locals ‘frame’ their world.

Conscious travel occurs when we are fully aware of our individual and collective actions as visitors and hosts. We allow ourselves to be inspired by others and in our gratitude we acknowledge the good work of those around us.

For visitors, this is a major rethinking. Quoting Clay Hubbs: "What distinguishes one tourist from another is how we travel, not where or even why. What distinguishes is a desire to learn from our hosts and openness to change." (Source: Transitions Abroad: 30 Years On, poster)

Translating: Conscious Tourism

Translating: Conscious Travel

To use a Maori proverb (and the title of a photo exhibition at the 2007 Ecotourism New Zealand Conference): Manaki Whenua, Manaki Tangata, Haere Whakamua (translation: Care for the land, care for people, go forward).

Ecuador 2013

Ecuador Position Paper

In 2011, Ecuador’s Ministry of Tourism introduced the concept of “conscious tourism” at national and international events. Salient here were the following: the Specialized Workshop on Conscious Tourism, held at Pululahua Volcano on June 27, 2011, and a number of international forums, among them the following: First International Congress on Ethics and Tourism (Madrid), XIX Inter-American Travel Congress (San Salvador), XII Forum on Tourism Integration in Central America and the Caribbean (Guatemala), XI Ibero-American Conferences of Ministers of Tourism (Asunción), II Meeting of the Working Subgroup on Tourism of the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation – FEALAC (Buenos Aires), and the XIX General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization.
With the assistance of the World Tourism Organization, a group of national and international experts participated in the Specialized Workshop. Its main purpose was to help craft public policy from the new perspective of “conscious tourism.”

Through various roundtables that relied on a participatory format, the following agenda was developed:
a.Sustainable tourism’s contribution to the new “conscious tourism” dimension. b.Development of the conceptual framework of “conscious tourism” as applied to
national and international tourism today. c.Applicability of the “conscious tourism” model in the new operational strategies
for national and international public policies. d.The contribution that “conscious tourism” makes to rapprochement and peace
among peoples by creating a respectful awareness of nature and culture.
The final declaration of the Workshop is titled “Conscious Tourism means loving life” and is transcribed below:
The Pululahua Workshop introduced a new dimension of tourism development: “conscious tourism.”
“Conscious tourism” as a philosophy of the tourism business, incorporating the concepts of responsible, ethical, sustainable, inclusive and non-discriminatory tourism, emphasizes the importance of the life experience that tourism imparts and its potential to be a transformative experience for the individual.
Throughout its history, the travel business found itself trapped in the dilemma of having to maximize its profits by over-exploiting the (human, natural, cultural, and other) resources available to it. In recent decades, as the international precedents evolved, various international

Draft Consensus Paper

DRAFT QUITO CONSENSUS ON CONSCIENTIOUS TOURISM IN THE AMERICAS] (In square brackets at the request of the Delegation of Mexico – 08/23/2012)

(Considered during the eighth plenary session held August 23 and 24, 2012) [1]
WE, THE MINISTERS AND HIGH-LEVEL AUTHORITIES OF TOURISM OF THE MEMBER STATES OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES (OAS), gathered in Quito, Ecuador, on September 12 and 13, 2012, at the XX Inter-American Congress of Ministers and High-level Authorities of Tourism;
(Agreed on 08/23/2012)
TAKING NOTE of the holding of theSecondInternational Congress on Ethics and Tourismand the Fifty-fourth Meeting of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Commission for the Americas, held in Quito, Ecuador, September 11 and 12, 2012
; (Agreed on 08/23/2012)
CONSIDERING that the holding of the XX Inter-American Congress of Ministers and High-level Authorities of Tourism represents an opportunity for political and technical dialogue at the highest level among tourism stakeholders in the public and private sectors, academics, and other nongovernmental organizations in the Hemisphere;
(Agreed on 08/23/2012)
UNDERSCORING the significant contribution of the tourism sector to national efforts to reduce poverty and combat social inequality; the improvement in the quality of life for tourist sending and host communities; the sustainable development of our countries, particularly in relation to job creation, leisure, recreation, and business opportunities; the development of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), particularly for social sectors in situations of vulnerability, such as women, children, racial, and ethnic minorities, and indigenous peoples; and the advancement and promotion of human rights and social inclusion;
(Agreed on 08/23/2012)
RECOGNIZING that at the XX Inter-American Congress of Ministers and High-level Authorities of Tourism, “Conscientious Tourism,” elements of a dynamic, new philosophy for tourism were considered, with particular emphasis on sustainability, ethics, and responsibility, as well as its potential as a life transforming experience;
(Agreed on 08/23/2012)
CONSIDERING that “Conscientious Tourism” is a concept in the process of development and is being discussed in international forums, and considering that some countries have incorporated it in their public policies given its potential to contribute to the objectives of development and social inclusion;
(Agreed on 08/23/2012)
RECOGNIZING that “Conscientious Tourism” could take into account the current and future economic, social, and environmental repercussions of tourism activity that seeks to meet the needs of visitors, host communities, the environment, and the industry;
(Agreed on 08/23/2012)
CONSIDERING further that integrating the concept of “Conscientious Tourism” into tourism activities could facilitate the implementation of policies and create mechanisms through which to effect positive change in the way that tourism is practiced and improve the well-being of our peoples;
(Agreed on 08/23/2012)

ACKNOWLEDGING also the importance of promoting tourism through an inclusive approach as a basic and cross-cutting element in any policy;
(Agreed on 08/23/2012)
RECOGNIZING likewise that in the Declaration of San Salvador for Sustainable Tourism Development in the Americas, the member states undertook to “facilitate policies that benefit women-owned businesses, which are a driving force of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in the countries of the Hemisphere”;
(Agreed on 08/23/2012)
RECALLING that the Declaration of San Salvador for Sustainable Tourism Development in the Americas recognizes “that tourism should be promoted with ethical and social responsibility, taking into account measures needed to prevent, combat, and eradicate human trafficking in all its forms, especially commercial sexual exploitation of children”;
(Agreed on 08/23/2012)
RECOGNIZING that support for tourism operations by local communities is crucial for the creation of innovative livelihood strategies;
(Agreed on 08/23/2012)
RECOGNIZING ALSO that tourism standards and certification criteria are an useful tool for industry bench-marking and marketing, and expressing our concern that the proliferation of sustainability certification, its criteria and its costs are, among other factors, some of the main challenges facing those that engage in tourism activities;
(Agreed on 08/23/2012)
REITERATING the importance of intraregional tourism as an invaluable instrument of integration and knowledge among our peoples as well as the importance of fostering domestic tourism as a driving force in the economy;
(Agreed on 08/23/2012)
RECOGNIZING that accurate information on tourism’s environmental, social, and economic impacts makes a significant contribution to responsible decision-making and the formulation and implementation of appropriate tourism policies;
(Agreed on 08/23/2012)

EXPRESSING APPRECIATION FOR the generous contributions received from the Ministries of Tourism of Barbados, Belize, El Salvador, Mexico, and Trinidad and Tobago to provide the initial capital for the Hemispheric Tourism Fund agreed on in the Declaration of San Salvador for Sustainable Tourism Development in the Americas as a financing and cooperation mechanism to support communities that live in extreme poverty and have tourism potential in their environment but cannot fully achieve development;
(Agreed on 08/23/2012)
WELCOMING with satisfaction the establishment of the Inter-American Committee on Tourism (CITUR), the adoption of its Rules of Procedure, and the holding of its first meeting on August 23 and 24, 2012;
(Agreed on 08/23/2012)
RECOGNIZING the guidelines
arising from the first regular meeting of CITUR for the establishment of the operational mechanism for the Hemispheric Tourism Fund; (Agreed on 08/24/2012)**
THEREFORE, WE, THE MINISTERS AND HIGH-LEVEL AUTHORITIES OF TOURISM OF THE MEMBER STATES:

1. REITERATE that to promote sustainable tourism, we must combat the serious problems of poverty, social exclusion, and inequity, through approaches that recognize the need for a responsible and ethical use of tourism resources by the sector’s various stakeholders involved. (Agreed on 08/23/2012)

2. ENCOURAGE dialogue, cooperation, and consultation to continue with the process of development of the concept of “Conscientious Tourism” among tourism stakeholders as an approach that could have a fundamental and positive impact on the well-being of sending and host communities. (Agreed on 08/23/2012)

3. [APPROVE the Statutes making the Hemispheric Tourism Fund operational so it can commence operations in support of tourism development in poor communities.] (Agreed on 08/24/2012. However, it was decided to leave it in brackets until the informal meetings reach an agreement on the draft Statutes for the Hemispheric Tourism Fund)

4. INSTRUCT the Inter-American Committee on Tourism (CITUR), with the support of the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development (SEDI) of the OAS General Secretariat, through its Department of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism: (Agreed on 08/23/2012)

a. To follow up on the mandates emanating from previous meetings of the Inter-American Travel Congress. (Agreed on 08/23/2012)

b. To prepare an annual work plan in order to have an instrument to promote the development of the tourism sector in the Americas. (Agreed on 08/23/2012)

c. To formulate a strategy to promote the participation of associate members, in accordance to Article 19 of the Rules of Procedure of CITUR, in its activities. (Agreed on 08/23/2012)

d. To prepare, within the framework of its annual work plan, a strategy to increase voluntary contributions for the Hemispheric Tourism Fund. (Agreed on 08/24/2012)

e. To report to the XXI Inter-American Congress of Ministers and High-level Authorities of Tourism on the execution of the Hemispheric Tourism Fund. (Agreed on 08/24/2012)

5. COMMITTED , as part of the process of developing the concept of “Conscientious Tourism,” to the development of ethical, responsible, and sustainable tourism in our nations we consider it important to: (Agreed on 08/24/2012)

a. Foster tourism sector cooperation policies, programs, and projects that emphasize the cross-cutting nature of tourism and its relationship to other economic and social development sectors in our countries. (Agreed on 08/23/2012)

b. Continue, as appropriate, with the process of development of the concept of “Conscientious Tourism” that would emphasize the concepts of responsible, ethical, sustainable, and inclusive tourism and that emphasizes the importance of the life experience that tourism imparts and its potential to be a transformative experience for the individual. (Agreed on 08/23/2012)

c. Promote a responsible and ethical approach to sustainable tourism development which continues the process of development of the concept of “Conscientious Tourism” with a view to engendering more equitable and inclusive economic development that contributes effectively to the reduction of poverty and inequality. (Agreed on 08/23/2012)

d. Urge all tourism stakeholders to include ethics, responsibility, and sustainability in all their actions in the sector and to consider the principles of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism contained in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 56/212. (Agreed on 08/23/2012)

e. Promote gender equity and empowerment of women as a mechanism to expand the positive impact of tourism development. (Agreed on 08/23/2012)

f. Promote the strengthening of policies and actions among member states to ensure that tourism is not used for human trafficking in any of its forms, especially sexual exploitation of minors. (Agreed on 08/23/2012)

g. Encourage the development of community tourism operations through, inter alia, the sharing of successful experiences and the promotion of joint activities. (Agreed on 08/23/2012)

h. Foster cooperation at the regional and hemispheric level to encourage tourism that is accessible to persons with disabilities and to senior citizens. (Agreed on 08/23/2012)

i. Promote initiatives that foster and facilitate local, regional, and intraregional tourism, recognizing its importance to integration and knowledge among our peoples. (Agreed on 08/23/2012)

j. Adopt measures to support responsible decision-making and the formulation and implementation of policies that lead to the development of tourism through, inter alia, the development of tourism information systems, tourism satellite accounts, tourism observatories and mechanisms for research and compilation of accurate information on tourism’s environmental, social, and economic impacts. (Agreed on 08/24/2012)

k. Accept with satisfaction the offer of the Republic of Honduras to hold the XXI Inter-American Congress of Ministers and High-level Authorities of Tourism in 2013. (Agreed on 08/24/2012)

6.

CIDI03753E01

THANK the Government and the people of Ecuador for their warm and generous hospitality and for their commitment and contribution to the success of the XX Inter-American Congress of Ministers and High-level Authorities of Tourism in the framework of the OAS. (Agreed on 08/24/2012)

[1]. The session held August 24, 2012 did not have the necessary quorum to reach decisions; 16 delegations participated.

Ecuador

For locals, there are new ways to connect with visitors. There is a difference between bums on seats and minds in gear. There's great inspiration from long-time pioneers such as Black Sheep Inn (Ecuador) which is converting from single or two-night stays to week-long retreats. Slow travel and slow adventures are key to making this conscious revolution from business as usual to a future fit world.